Domestic airports to be upgraded

By Jayampathy Jayasinghe

Small domestic airports scattered throughout the island will be upgraded to facilitate domestic travel. The Deputy Minister of Ports and Aviation Dayasritha Tissera told the Sunday Observer that the government is looking at the possibility of improving conditions of small airports to facilitate air travel within the country. When these airports are renovated, domestic air travel within towns will be possible, he said.

Meanwhile phase 1 of the runaway, taxi way and the apron of the Mattala airport will begin shortly following soil analysis by experts to determine the terrain. More than 800 hectares have been allocated for the purpose of constructing the airport.

“It is a massive project like that of the Hambantota Port Project. We have even found raw materials needed for the construction from the Mattala area that will significantly reduce the cost of the project.

“We intend to start the second phase of the airport shortly,” he said. Big international aircraft will be able to land when the Mattala airport is constructed.

The master plan details, the setting up of an aircraft servicing centre at Mattala,”

The Minister said that plans are under way to broaden the runway at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by 75 meters.

“At present the runaway is only 60 metres and we want to broaden it by 7.5 metres on either side to enable big aircraft to land at the BIA.